Paychex to buy Oasis Outsourcing for $1.2 billionPayroll company Paychex Inc. on Monday announced that it plans to purchase Oasis Outsourcing Acquisition Corp. for $1.2 billion. Oasis is the largest privately held professional employer organization (PEO) in the U.S., according to Paychex's release, and provides human-resources-outsourcing services. "This acquisition will strengthen our PEO growth strategy, gain scale for new products with our insurance carrier partners, provide a new client base to offer Paychex retirement and time and attendance products, and augment our experienced management team," Paychex Chief Executive Martin Mucci said in the release. The company expects that the acquisition will have a minimal impact on fiscal 2019 earnings, excluding transaction costs. Paychex sees potential for "a number of revenue and cost synergies as a result of this transaction." Shares are inactive in premarket trading Monday, and they're up 4% over the past 12 months, compared with a 1.2% rise for the S&P 500 .

Square is adding benefits option to its payroll product Company hopes enhancements to services offerings will help cross-sellingSquare Inc. is deepening its services offerings by giving small businesses the ability to offer employee benefits through its platform.

Technology-stock valuations are returning to Earth Price-to-earnings ratios are falling faster for tech stocks than for the S&P 500 IndexPrice-to-earnings ratios are falling faster for tech stocks than for the S&P 500 Index.

Bearish momentum accelerates, 10-to-1 down day inflicts technical damage Focus: Charting U.S. sector damage, Europe and China extend technical breakdowns, SMH, XLB, XLI, XRT, QQQ, IYT, XLF, FXI, IEV, EWJTechnically speaking, the U.S. benchmarks’ October downdraft continues to accelerate, inflicting broadly-based damage. Consider that the Nasdaq Composite has violated its 200-day moving average — closing lower for the first time since June 2016 — while the S&P 500 has knifed under major support (2,873) plunging straight to (and slightly below) its next significant floor.

Charting a bearish technical tilt, S&P 500 violates major support Focus: Small- and mid-cap benchmarks venture under 200-day average, Alphabet and Amazon violate major supportTechnically speaking, an already aggressive October market downdraft has once again accelerated early Wednesday. In the process, the S&P 500 has ventured firmly under major support — the 2,873 area — while the small- and mid-cap benchmarks have violated the 200-day moving average, raising a technical red flag.

October downturn accelerates, placing major S&P 500 support (2,873) under siege Focus: Regional banks capped by the breakdown point, KRE, GD, CME, CLR, CATMU.S. stocks are firmly lower Monday, extending an October downdraft that continues to inflict technical damage. On a headline basis, the Nasdaq Composite has reached two-month lows — extending its violation of trendline support — while the S&P 500 has pulled in to a major floor (2,873) and an extended retest remains underway.

Charting a bullish Q4 start, S&P 500 rises to challenge record close Focus: Apple rattles the cage on record highs, Crude oil extends break to nearly three-year highs, Oil services sector comes to life, AAPL, USO, OIH, OI, CATThough the bigger-picture backdrop is not one-size-fits-all, the big three U.S. benchmarks are off to a bullish fourth-quarter start. Consider that each index — the S&P 500, Dow industrials and Nasdaq Composite — topped Monday almost on its all-time closing high, areas that remain within striking distance to start October.

Charting a trade-fueled breakout attempt, S&P 500 challenges record close Focus: Crude oil’s break to 35-month highs, USO, XOM, OXY, INTC, PLD, ZBHU.S. stocks are firmly higher to start the fourth quarter, rising after an unexpected U.S.-Canada trade agreement was reached Sunday night. Against this backdrop, the S&P 500 has rallied from an extended test of its breakout point, rising early Monday to challenge its record close (2,930.75).

Closing out a bullish third quarter, Nasdaq rattles the cage on a breakout Focus: Japan digests technical breakout, GE digests technical breakdown, EWJ, GE, C, ATVI, SHAKThe major U.S. benchmarks are closing out the third quarter against a comfortably bullish technical backdrop. Consider that the recently lagging Nasdaq Composite is rattling the cage on a breakout — challenging its range top (8,042) — while the S&P 500 and Dow industrials continue to digest previously decisive breaks to record territory.

Charting market rotation, bull trend absorbs Fed-fueled volatility Focus: Financials and homebuilders pressured after the Fed amid otherwise bullish U.S. sub-sector backdrop, XLF, KRE, XHB, XLI, XLV, QQQ, OIHTechnically speaking, the U.S. benchmarks have whipsawed after the Federal Reserve’s policy statement against a rotational, and still bullish, bigger-picture backdrop. Consider that the Nasdaq Composite has come to life — tagging three-week highs — while the S&P 500 continues to digest its September break to record territory.

Square stock extends gains after company rolls out new payroll app; ADP, Paychex stocks fallSquare Inc. rolled out a new, dedicated payroll app on Tuesday, which will allow employers to approve time cards and pay employees. Over the past few quarters, merchant services such as payroll have helped contribute to the company's strong growth. Square has been successful in convincing merchants to pay for additional services beyond payment processing, including instant access to funds and invoicing. The new app puts the payroll service in a dedicated place. Shares of Automatic Data Processing Inc. turned negative in midday trading Tuesday, and they're now down 0.8%. Shares of Paychex Inc. are currently off 1.7%. Square stock continues to add to its gains, and it's now up 8.3%. Earlier Tuesday, an analyst on the stock to $125, which is the highest listed on FactSet. The stock is up 240% over the past 12 months, as the S&P 500 has gained 17%.

S&P 500 pulls in to the breakout point (2,916), initial retest underway Focus: Energy sector’s breakout attempt, XLE, HES, HPQ, COUP, TSROU.S. stocks are lower early Monday, pressured amid familiar trade tensions as well as heightened political uncertainty. Against this backdrop, the S&P 500 has pulled in to its first retest of the breakout point (2,916) following last week’s decisive break to record territory.

S&P 500, Dow industrials knife to uncharted territory, close atop 20-day volatility bands Focus: U.S. dollar pressured despite rising yields, Materials challenge major resistance, Europe shows signs of life, UUP, XLB, IEV, IBM, ADSK, INTCThe major U.S. benchmarks are setting up for a strong year-end with the third quarter set to conclude next week. Consider that the Dow industrials have knifed to record highs — notching consecutive closes atop the 20-day volatility bands — while the S&P 500 has staged an almost equally powerful break to uncharted territory.

Charting the Dow industrials’ bull-flag breakout attempt Focus: Regional banks violate 200-day average, KRE, BA, MPC, CHKP, SONC, DSWThe major U.S. benchmarks are slightly higher early Friday, building on early-week rallies from well-defined support. Against this backdrop, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is staging a slow-motion breakout attempt — briefly tagging seven-month highs early Friday — while S&P 500 has risen within view of its record high (2,916.5).

Charting a garden-variety pullback, S&P 500 maintains the breakout point Focus: Emerging markets press 14-month lows, Transports digest break to record highs, EEM, IYT, CVS, PANW, JECU.S. stocks are mixed Friday, but firmly off early session lows, rising after a solid monthly jobs report signaled strong wage growth. Against this backdrop, the S&P 500 has maintained its breakout point (2,873) while the Nasdaq Composite seems to have weathered a shakier retest of major support (7,933).

Nasdaq ventures under major support, S&P 500 back for second crack at 2,873 breakout point Focus: Alphabet’s backdrop bends amid retest of major support, Consumer staples hold 200-day average, GOOGL, XLP, KORS, VTR, DFS, LSCCU.S. stocks are lower early Thursday, pressured amid a social-media fueled technology sector downdraft and ahead of the marquee monthly U.S. jobs report, due out Friday. In the process, the Nasdaq Composite has ventured under notable support (7,933) while S&P 500 is back for its second crack this week at its breakout point (2,873).

S&P 500 pulls in to the breakout point (2,873), initial retest underway Focus: Amazon briefly tags $1 trillion mark, AMZN, HD, GDDY, UBNT, IPHI, OKTAU.S. stocks are lower early Wednesday, with the Nasdaq Composite more firmly on the defensive amid the congressional testimony of social media executives. Against this backdrop, the S&P 500 has initially maintained major support (2,873) rising from an early session low (2,876.9) slightly atop the breakout point. The retest remains underway.

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